news WILLMAR — Bad weather forced Willmar school buses to return some children to school rather than drive with them in the country Monday. Schools closed early Monday because of blizzard conditions caused by strong winds and drifting snow. Students wouldn’t have been in school on Presidents Day, except...
Willmar, 56201

Willmar Minnesota 2208 Trott Ave. SW / P.O. Box 839 56201

2013-02-19 01:03:58

WILLMAR — Bad weather forced Willmar school buses to return some children to school rather than drive with them in the country Monday.

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Schools closed early Monday because of blizzard conditions caused by strong winds and drifting snow. Students wouldn’t have been in school on Presidents Day, except the district was making up for a Feb. 11 snow day.

Not long after schools closed, the school district notified parents that some students would be returned to their schools by their buses.

At Roosevelt Elementary, Principal Nathan Cox said only a few dozen kids were brought back into the building. Nearly all of the children had been picked up by 3 p.m., he said.

The Middle School cafeteria gave about 75 students a place to wait.

All of the students had been picked up by shortly after 3 p.m., said Principal Mark Miley.

“We’ve been through that before,” he said, but it’s been several years since students have been returned to the buildings.

“It went very well,” Miley said. “We’ve got a system in place.”

The district plans for handling early closings and bad weather. Parents provide information about snow homes where their children can stay if they are snowbound. School staff stays at school until all students have been taken home or are somewhere safe.

Students who are returned to the schools are signed in and kept there until they are picked up by a parent or someone designated by their parents.